Today's Paper

Bangladeshi among three held in Sriharikota

NELLORE: The Sullurpet police have taken into custody three persons, including a Bangladeshi, working as casual labourers at the Sriharikota Space Centre (SHAR).

The police said the Bangladeshi, Nahir Ali Mullah (22), did not have proper papers, including passport and visa. The other two, Bimal Naskar (45) and Akthar Ali Mullah (30), hailed from 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

Naskar had employed Nahir and Akthar for air-conditioning insulation work and they were working since June 10, the police said.

“The Central Industrial Security Force personnel took them for questioning when two of them were quarrelling. On interrogation, it was found that Nahir was from Bangladesh,” a police officer said. “However, there is no evidence to suggest that Nahir was at Sriharikota to collect information about the SHAR,” said a senior police officer said.

Security lapse

Expressing concern over the security lapse, SP K. Lakshmi Reddy said he would write to the DGP highlighting the various security loopholes. “A police verification certificate is a must for any person entering the space centre’s premises. But unfortunately, it has not be been followed strictly at Sriharikota,” he said.